Edison and Ford Winter Estates Awarded Accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums

July 22, 2025

Edison and Ford Winter Estates Awarded Accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 22, 2025) – Edison and Ford Winter Estates (EFWE) has achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded to the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.

The historic winter home of Thomas Edison in Fort Myers, Florida.

Alliance Accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for more than 50 years, the Alliance’s museum accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation, and public accountability.

Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, approximately 1,100 are currently accredited. EFWE is now one of only 60 museums accredited in Florida. This achievement honors the hard work that the organization’s executive team and staff completed and fulfills an early obligation mandated by the City of Fort Myers.

“Earning accreditation through the American Alliance of Museums is a significant honor that places Edison and Ford Winter Estates among the nation’s top museums and highlights the organization’s dedication and vision,” said Cole Peacock, EFWE Board of Trustees Chair. “This achievement has a truly positive impact on our community and strengthens our shared commitment to excellence and education.”

Accreditation is a very rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation, a museum must first conduct a year of self-study and then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. The Alliance’s Accreditation Commission, an independent and autonomous body of museum professionals, considers the self-study and visiting committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.

“Accreditation is a monumental achievement,” said Marilyn Jackson, AAM President & CEO. “The process demonstrates an institution’s commitment to best practice and is flexible enough to be accomplished by museums of any size.”